These are the ravens of my soul,
Sloping above the lonely fields
And cawing, cawing.
I have released them now,
And sent them wavering down the sky,
Learning the slow witchery of the wind,
And crying on the farthest fences of the world.

The son’s of Hermes love to play,
And only do their best when they
Are told they oughtn’t;
Apollo’s children never shrink
From boring jobs but have to think
Their work important.

by Kay Boyle 1922 or 1923

I have wanted other things more than lovers . . .
I have desired peace, intimately to know
The secret curves of deep-bosomed contentment
To learn by heart things beautiful and slow.

Cities at night, and cloudful skies, I’ve wanted;
And open cottage doors, old colors and smells a part;
All dim things, layers of river-mist on river –
To capture Beauty’s hands and lay them on my heart.

I have wanted clean rain to kiss my eyelids,
Sea-spray and silver foam to kiss my mouth
I have wanted strong winds to flay me with passion;
And, to soothe me, tired winds from the south.

These things have I wanted more than lovers . . .
Jewels in my hands, and dew on morning grass –
Familiar things, while lovers have been strangers.

Friended thus, I have let nothing pass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Comfort of Kay’s Monody

Who would think through the ages her words
Could possibly touch our passions, sorrows?
Fortifying us with her shared consciousness
Her contradictory lament, sadly joyful.
Defining us with her illuminations
” . . . while lovers have been strangers . . .”

Innately understanding a chosen loneliness
Comforts our ceaselessly searching souls
Recognizing that our peregrinations are
In truth solitary reiterative sojourns
Allowing us to acknowledge comfort seized
In enduring sensation and glimpses
” . . . Sea-spray and silverfoam to kiss my mouth . . .”

Whilst I living as such you have been made me free to feel
” Friended thus I have let nothing pass”.
We are in your arms, blessed Kay.